Chapter 56: The Underclassmen’s School Trip

The blazing sun, white sandy beaches, the blue sea, and—well, everything else that came with it.

"Weiss, aren't you going to swim?"

"Weiss-sama, let's go for a dip!"

There they stood: Cynthia, wearing a black, frilly, back-lace swimsuit, and Lilith, sporting a pink number with a matching pareo.

Wait, do swimsuits like that even exist in this era? Ah, whatever. Best not to overthink it.

"Weiss-kun, u-um, would it be okay if I joined you too?"

"Fancent-kun, could you lend me your parasol?"

There was Carta in a suspiciously bouncy school swimsuit, a girl in a gray one-piece that didn't show much skin, and finally, Cecil, whose incredible style was doing… very bouncy things to her own swimsuit.

"……Fine, whatever."

Even though the summer break—the one we called Estarm—had technically ended, the heat of the season was still going strong.

The Calamity "Whip" incident was over.

In other words, it was time for the Reward 《Sea》.

---

"Cynthia-san, what do you think of this? Does it suit me?"

"Oh, it’s lovely. What about mine? I brought one that’s quite popular in the Royal Capital right now."

We were currently in my private room at the Noblesse Magic Academy.

Things had been chaotic because of the Calamity, but the humdrum of daily life had finally returned. My points had seen a massive boost, and as a result, my room had been upgraded yet again.

My double bed was now a queen. My two ornamental plants had multiplied into four. A "welcome fruit basket" was now delivered once a week. And, of course, academy staff handled all the cleaning.

It was the absolute height of hospitality.

Part of this was thanks to my rank reaching C+. I’d heard rumors that if I hit rank B, the treatment would be even more lavish. Allen and his crew had apparently reached rank C thanks to their victory with the championship cup, but they supposedly hated the idea of private rooms and were sharing a double.

They’re so close it actually makes me a little suspicious.

Anyway—

"How long are you two going to stare at those swimsuits? We’re leaving soon."

"I want to agonize over it until the very last second!"

"She's right, Weiss. As a woman—and more importantly, as a lady—this is only natural."

Cynthia and Lilith were locked in a deep summit regarding which swimsuits deserved a spot in their luggage.

Seriously, think about it for a second.

We were nobles. Even if we were students, did they really think such a joyful, tropical event existed in this pseudo-medieval era?

The answer: absolutely not.

But here at Noblesse, it was allowed.

Why? Because it was Noblesse. That was the only logic required.

"……Still, it’s finally happening."

This was a staple event for any school-themed story.

The school trip, led by the faculty for the underclassmen.

Our destination was a town called Chuko, located along the southern coast and famous for its beaches. Normally, one would just go and have a good time.

But while this world was my reality, it was also a game.

I felt myself psyching up. By the time this trip was over, I was certain we’d have people dropping out of the academy.

Ah, I can't wait.

"Kukuku… Hahahaha!"

"Weiss looks like he’s having fun. I didn't realize he liked traveling so much."

"It’s because he gets to spend time with us! Weiss-sama is just so kind!"

---

——Chuko Port.

The salt air filled my lungs, and the summer sun beat down on the shoreline.

"Whoaaaa! This place is freaking gorgeous!"

"You're right. It smells like the ocean."

"Allen, Duke, make sure you don't wander off."

""Yes, Mom!""

The usual trio seemed to be in high spirits.

Well, enjoy it while it lasts.

A few days after our preparations, we arrived in Chuko after several ship transfers. The underclassmen filed off the boat one by one. There were plenty of classmates I’d never even spoken to before.

Chatting and smiling was all well and good for now, but I wondered what kind of looks they’d have on their faces by the final day.

"Weiss, you seem to be enjoying yourself."

The person who called out to me was Teacher Milk. She was one of our chaperones this time, along with Darius and Chloe.

Unlike her usual attire, she was dressed in something… a bit more revealing. Her upper arms weren't too thin, but they weren't exactly thick either. They had just the right amount of softness.

Damn, maybe I’m getting a little carried away too.

"Well, considering what’s about to happen, I’m looking forward to it," I said, referring to the game events I knew were coming.

"I see. So you are a boy after all," she replied, clearly assuming I was just excited about seeing girls in swimsuits.

"I wonder. Well, I am a male, so that might be part of it," I countered, my blood boiling for the upcoming "events."

"Hmm… I’ll have to beat that rotten spirit out of you later. To think you’re so desperate to see swimsuits… you’re a failure as a disciple."

"Wait, what?! What are you talking about?!"

I genuinely had no idea what she was getting at.

And so, our summer truly began.

"Alright! Everyone, follow the teachers!"

I fell in line behind Darius. For once, it actually felt like we were students.

We walked along the coastline until we reached a slightly more open area. I had assumed it was within walking distance, but this was Nobless Academy—everything was a trek. We finally arrived, drenched in the sweltering heat.

Standing before us were two mansions that were far too large for a frontier town. Actually, "halls" was probably a better word. They were massive. Two identical buildings stood side-by-side, separated into boys' and girls' wings.

The exteriors looked a bit weathered and made me nervous, but the interiors were pristine. I’d seen them in the game, but I hadn't known the specifics.

Honestly, a facility that could house this many students shouldn't exist in a world like this, but I figured that was just "game logic" at work. No point in stressing over it.

The room assignments had already been posted. We were split into groups of four.

Looking at my roommates, I was… less than thrilled.

"Yo, Weiss! Good to be with you!"

"Weiss, it’s been a while since we were on a team together."

The ones greeting me were Vitamin and Allen. Being in the same room was annoying, but I guessed the points system had some hand in this.

"Don't touch my shoulder, Duke. You’ve been demoted to Lipid."

"L-Lipid? What’s that supposed to mean, Allen?"

"Who knows?"

I pushed open the door to our room. It was wider than I’d expected, furnished with two sets of bunk beds. I immediately claimed a bottom bunk. It was easier to get in and out of, and I could spread my gear on the floor.

I was the strongest here; therefore, I had the right of first refusal.

"I definitely want the top! I wanna look down on everyone!" Duke shouted.

"I think I’ll take a top bunk too," Allen added.

God, they really are just kids.

Duke started stripping off his shirt because he was sweaty, but he suddenly let out a scream like a prepubescent girl.

"Ugyaa?! W-Who?! A girl?!"

Lipid was staring at someone with a short, fluffy black bob, large eyes, a dainty nose, and plump lips. One look at this person and the word "cute" would reflexively leak out of your mouth.

The person in question tilted their head.

"Eh? Are you talking to me?"

"W-Why are you here?! This is the guys' room!"

"Wait, what?! I know that!"

It was no wonder Duke was panicking. This person’s name was Olin Pastel. He’d been in a different class until now, but with the recent point shifts and class reorganizations, he had just been moved into ours.

A delicate frame, slender arms, skin as white as porcelain, and a face more angelic than anyone else’s—I'm pretty sure that was his literal design concept.

"Duke, that's rude," Allen chided.

"What do you mean, rude?"

I see. It seemed Allen was already in the loop.

"Olin is a boy."

"Wait… A boy?!"

"U-Um, yeah."

Yes, Olin was a boy. However, his character bio had read like this: The most adorable person in the history of Noblesse—an "Otokonoko" (feminine boy).

"Ah… sorry. I get mistaken for a girl a lot," Olin said sheepishly.

"Are you serious?! Man, you scared the crap out of me…"

Even seeing him with my own eyes, I was stunned. In the Noblesse popular character polls, he had always held a top spot. The reasons were simple: he was insanely cute. His skin was translucent, his limbs were delicate, his eyelashes were long—honestly, if he wasn't a girl, the world was a lie.

"Your skin is… way too nice, man…"

"Ehehe. You think so?"

The shy smile he gave Lipid was practically angelic.

Wait, what the hell am I saying? I don't have those kinds of interests.

Olin was timid and wasn't the type to push his own opinions. That, too, contributed to his feminine aura.

"U-Um, it’s nice to meet you all."

"Nice to meet you, Olin!"

"Looking forward to it."

When Duke and Allen accepted him, Olin looked visibly relieved.

"Weiss-kun… looking forward to it…?"

"……Yeah."

I could handle a basic greeting. So, these were my three roommates.

The room had some nice decorations, but obviously, there was no TV or anything modern. We were connected to the girls' wing, but the teachers’ rooms were situated right in the middle. Going back and forth was impossible. Well, maybe if you died and became a ghost you could pull it off, but I didn't think anyone was that desperate.

"Alright! Now that we’re settled, let's get into our swimsuits!"

"Wait, already?"

"Not like we have anything else to do! To the sea!"

With that, Lipid stripped off his shirt to show off his physique. His biceps, lats, and abs were actually high-tier. This guy doesn't even know what protein is, yet he’s ripped…

I secretly compared myself to him and realized I was losing. Damn it. And he's just a side character.

"W-Wow… everyone is so impressive…" Olin said with a bashful smile.

He was clearly intimidated by us. He had no physical strength, his magic was mediocre, and his grades were only slightly above average.

"S-Should I take my clothes off too?"

The room went dead silent. Even Duke, whose mouth usually ran faster than his brain, seemed to sense that this was dangerous territory. I mean, we were all guys, but still.

The truth was, in the original game, Olin had "destroyed" the brains of countless men. I won't go into detail, but a staggering number of players "awakened" because of him.

As for me? That’s a secret.

"Ehehe. I guess I’ll change later then."

His timid behavior reminded me a bit of Carta. But it wasn't just his looks that stood out. He didn't realize his own potential yet, and neither did the people around him.

But I knew.

The reason Olin was so popular wasn't just his face—it was his hidden talent. He possessed the highest, most elite potential in all of Noblesse.

"Duke-kun, you're amazing! Keep going!"

"Uoooooh! For some reason, having Olin watch me makes my push-ups feel ten times more powerful! I don't know why, but uoooooooooo!"

Just then, a small squirrel-like monster hopped onto Duke’s back. Duke shrieked and jumped, sending the squirrel flying onto Olin’s head.

"W-What is that thing?!"

"Ah, sorry. He’s my magical beast."

"A magical beast?! Isn't taming supposed to be incredibly hard?"

"Maybe, but he’s small. I've always been good at getting along with monsters."

"Huh. Well, he’s definitely cute!"

"Ehehe. Right?"

While they were having their heartwarming little chat, I was the only one feeling a sense of foreboding.

Ah, so he’s still at "that" stage.

Olin was a late bloomer, more so than anyone else. He had a cute face now, but in the future, he would become stronger than any of them. After all, the title given to Olin Pastel in the world of Noblesse was: The Strongest Beast Tamer in History.

In the game’s final act, Olin fought the Demon King while commanding two Ancient Dragons—beings far more powerful than the dragon Allen and I had faced.

A timid feminine boy growing up to ride a dragon into the final battle? Is there anyone who wouldn't be hyped by that?

"Maybe I should try some push-ups too. But I’m not very strong…"

"Oh, sure! That sounds—wait, Olin, don't just start stripping here!"

"Fueee?!"

…I wasn't excited. I definitely wasn’t.